The Years Of Radical Commitment: Democratisation And Secularisation (1973–1984)

10.1163/ej.9789004187412.i-327.53

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Chapter Summary

Stichting Nederlandse Vrijwilligers (SNV) expanded rapidly in the early 1970s and critics from within even spoke of a 'period of irresponsible growth'. The number of volunteers had risen from 279 in 1968 to 526 in 1971 and between 1970 and 1974 the organisation saw a growth rate of 60%. Within this larger organisation all parties wanted to have a say and the period under discussion here was marked by democratisation, radicalisation and political engagement. Jan Pronk made an enormous impact on Dutch development thinking. Through the B Objective and Kontaktgroep Nederlanse Vrijwilligers (KNV), the returned volunteer came to play increasingly important role in the organisation. Secularisation was apparent in the projects in the field that were gradually becoming more independent of church and mission influence. There was a rapid increase in development activities and the Third World Movement grew quickly both in the Netherlands and around the world.